Locking mechanism for switch-points.



No. 775,840. PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904. J. MAHER & O. W. HARBISON.

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR SWITCH POINTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED "STATES Patented November 232, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

, JOSEPH MAHER AND CLARENCE W. HARBISON, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR SWITCH-POINTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,840, dated November22, 190 1.

Application filed May 2, 1904- Serial No. 205,999- (No model.)

[0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JosErH MAI-Inn and CLARnNonVV. Hzxnmsomcitizens ofthe United States of America, residing at Columbus, in the county ofFranklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Looking Mechanism for Switch-Points, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to locking mechanism for switch-points.

The invention aims to provide new and novel means,hereinafter morespecifically described, for securely looking a switch-point in aninoperative position and retaining the switchpoint in such positionuntil said means is operated manually to releasethe point.

The invention further aims to provide new and novel means, hereinaftermore specifically referred to, for securely looking a switchpoint in aninoperative position to the stockrail and retaining the point in suchposition until said means is operated manually to release the point.

The invention further aims to provide a new and novel locking mechanismfor switchpoints which can be arranged and operated without interferingwith the switch-point throwing, setting, or shifting mechanism.

The invention further aims to provide a locking mechanism forswitch-points which shall be simple in construction and arrangement,readily and easily operated, strong, durable, efiicient in its use, andcomparatively inexpensive to set up.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morespecifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, whereinlike reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, and in which- Figure l is a top plan view showing theapplication of the mechanism. Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sectionsshowing, respectively, the locking mechanism in operative and out ofoperative position; and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of a portionof the mechanism.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, 1 and 2 denote a pairof railwayties upon which is secured the stock-rail 3 and on whichoperates the switch-tongue 4. The rail 3 and switch-point iare brokenaway at one end and said switch-point may be thrown, shifted, or set byany known means. It is thought unnecessary to show a switchpointthrowing, shifting, or setting mechanism, as such forms no part of thisinvention. To show the arrangement of the operatinglever for the lockingmechanism with respect to the switch-throwing, shifting, or settingleverthe latter is shown and indicated by the reference character 5.

Secured to the upper face of the tie 1 by any suitable holdfast deviceis what may be termed a retaining-plate 6 for that portion of themechanism which forms the locking element, and the said plate 6 isarranged be low the base of the rail 3 and the point at. The plate 6 atone end is formed with a seat or chair for one side of the base of thestool:- rail 3, as indicated by the reference character 7. One side ofthe plate 6 is provided with a pair of apertured ears 8, and betweensaid ears 8 is arranged an apertured protuberance 9, formed on one endof the locking-elementcarrying plate 10. Through the ears 8 andprotuberance 9 extends a pivot 11 for connecting the plates 6 and 10together. By such construction a hinge connection between the two plates6 and 10 is provided.

The carrying-plate 10 is arranged between theties 1 and 2 and beneaththe stock-rail 3 and below the path of the switch-point at. The plate 10at the end opposite to that which is hinged to the plate 6 may be of anysuitable width desired. and preferably it is of greater width than itshinged end. The enlarged end of the plate 10 is provided with a pair oftransversely-extending alining slots 11 12, within which is pivoted, asat 13, the rockable locking-knuckles. Each of the locking-knucklesconsists of two arms 14: 15, connected together at their lower ends. Thearms 14 are what may be termed the shifting arms and the arms 15 thelockingerms.

Normally the arms 1 1 extend in a vertical manner within the slots,while the arms extend at an angle with respect to the arms 1A. Thefunction of the arms 14 is to cause in a manner as hereinafter set forththe arms 15 to engage the base of the switch-point 4: and stock-rail 3and securely lock the switchpoint to the stock-rail. Twolocking-knuckles are employed, one of which is adapted to engage thebase of the switch-point and the other of which is adapted to engage thebase of the stock-rail.

The plate 10 has connected thereto a spring 16, engaging with the arms14 for retaining the knuckles in their inoperative position when thelocking mechanism is out of operation. The plate 10 is further providedwith an apertured protuberance 17 through which extends a means forvertically moving in both directions the free end of said plate, causingthereby the rocking of the knuckles, so as to move the knuckles tooperative position and to permit of the knuckles returning toinoperative position.

The means extending through the protuberance 17 consists of a shiftablerod 18, operating transversely in both directions of the track-bed, sowhen moved inwardly it will cause the free end of the plate 10 to lowerand when moved in the other direction it will raise the free end of theplate 10. The rod 18 is supported upon a pair of crank-shafts 19 20, oneof which is arranged at one side of the stock-rail 3 and the other atthe other side of the said rail 3. The shafts 19 are D pivoted at theirends within the opposing sides of the ties 1 2. The rod 18 is operatedthrough the medium of an L-shaped lever 21, which is pivoted, as at 22,to one end of the rod 18 and also pivoted, as at 23, to the tie 2. Thelever 21 extends over the switch-pointthrowing lever 5 and is retainedin position when the switch-point is locked through the medium of thecatch 2 1 or other suitable means secured to the tie 2.

When the locking mechanism is adapted to secure the switch-point to thestock-rail, the plate 10 is raised by shifting outwardly the rod 18,which causes the arms 14: to contact with the underneath face of thebases of the switch-point and stock-rail. Such engagement as the plate10 is elevated will cause the knuckles to rock, and the arms 15 will beswung around and over one side of the bases of the switch-point andstock-rail, and when the lever 21 is locked the knuckles will securelyconnect and lock together the switch-point and stock-rail. WVhen it isdesired to release the switch-point, the lever 21 is unlocked and therod 18 shifted inwardly, which will cause the lowering of the plate 10,and action of the spring 16 will cause the knuckles to assume theirinoperative position that out of engagement with the switch-point andstock-rail. The locking elements, as well as the operating means for themechanism, are arranged between the ties and are down so low that thesaid elements and operating means cannot be injured or knocked out ofplace if a car is derailed or if anything is dragging.

It is thought the many advantages of a locking mechanism forswitch-points constructed in accordance with the foregoing description,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, can be thoroughlyunderstood, and it will furthermore be evident that changes, variations,and modifications can be resorted to without departing from the spiritof the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and we thereforedo not wish to restrict ourselves to the details of constructionhereinbefore described, and set forth in the annexed drawings, butreserve the right to make such changes, variations, and modifications ascome properly within the scope of the protection prayed.

Having thus fully described our invention,

what we claim as new, and desire to secure by,

Letters Patent, is-

1. A locking mechanism for switch-points, comprising apair of rockablelocking-knuckles adapted to connect a switch-point to a stockrail, andoperating means for said knuckles.

2. A locking member for switch-points, comprising a rockable lockingmeans adapted to engage with a switch-point and stockrail for connectingthem together, said means rocked through contact with the switch-pointand stock-rail.

3. A locking mechanism for switch-points comprising a hinged plate,locking-knuckles carried thereby, and means for elevating and. loweringsaid plate causing thereby the operation of the knuckles.

1. A locking mechanism for switch-points comprising a hinged plate,locking-knuckles pivoted to the plate, and means for elevating andlowering the plate.

5. A locking mechanism for switch-points comprising a hinged plate,locking-knuckles carried thereby, and a transversely-operable meansengaging with said plate for elevating and lowering it.

6. A locking mechanism for switch-points comprising a hinged plate,locking-knuckles pivoted to the plate, and a transversely-shiftablemeans engaging with the plate for elevating and lowering it.

7. A locking mechanism for switch-points comprising a pair of rockingknuckles for connecting the point to a stock-rail, and supporting meansfor said knuckles.

8. A locking mechanism for switch-points comprising a pair of knucklesfor connecting the point to a stock-rail, each of said knucklesconsisting of a shifting and a lockingarm, combined with asupporting-plate for said knuckles.

9. A locking mechanism for switch-points comprising a pair of knucklesfor connecting bers carried by said plate and adapted to engage with theswitch-point and stock-rail and lock them together when saldearrylng-plate is operated, and a transversely-shifting means engagingwith said carrying-plate for operating 1t.

12. Mechanism for looking a switch-point to a stock-rail comprising aretaining-plate, a carrying-plate hinged thereto, locking memberscarried by said plate and adapted to engage with the switch-point andstock-rail and lock them together when said carrying-plate is operated,a transversely-shiftable rod for engaging with said carrying-plate foroperating it, pivoted supporting means for said rod, and means forshifting the rod.

13. A device for looking a switch-point to a stock-rail, consisting of avertically-movable locking mechanism arranged below said point and railand adapted when moved to engage the underneath face of the point andrail thereby shifting said mechanism to locking engagement with the baseof the point and base of the rail.

14:. A device for looking a switch-point to a stock-rail comprising apair of locking members adapted to be moved to engage the underneathface of the point and rail thereby shifting said members to lockingengagement with the base of the point and base of the rail.

15. A device for looking a switch-point to a stock-rail comprising apair of locking members adapted to be moved to engage the underneathface of the point and rail thereby shifting said members to lockingengagement with the base of the point and base of the rail, combinedwith an outwardly-movable means engaging with said members for elevatingthem to engagement with the underneath face ofthe point and rail.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH MAHER. CLARENCE W. HARBISON.

Witnesses:

G. S. ROCKAFIELD, C. HERMAN.

